IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

212 CRM-M-10860-2026 (O&M).

Date of decision: 22.04.2026.

MANPRIT SINGH @ MANPREET SINGH ...Petitioner(s)

VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent(s)

CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD S. BHARDWAJ PRESENT Mr. Aman Mittal, Advocate, for the petitioner(s).

Mr. Mohit Kapoor, Sr. DAG, Punjab.

Mr. Harkirat Singh, Advocate, for the complainant.

VINOD S. BHARDWAJ, J. (Oral)

This is the first petition filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No.58 dated 28.03.2022, under Section(s) 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, registered at Police Station City Rajpura, District Patiala.

The aforesaid FIR was registered on an application moved by Rajinder Kumar alleging that the petitioner had entered into an agreement to sell his plot for a total sale consideration of Rs.95 lakhs out of which a total sum of Rs.8 lakhs had been paid to the petitioner as earnest money. It was also alleged that despite receipt of the aforesaid amount of Rs.8 lakhs, the sale deed was not executed thus resulting in registration of the present FIR.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner contends that the petitioner is in custody since 28.12.2025 and the matter has already been settled between the parties whereby the petitioner is now required to return a sum of Rs.5 lakhs in total to the complainant and out of the same, a sum of Rs.1,50,000/- already stands paid. He contends that the petitioner has clean antecedents and has been in custody for nearly 04 months. State counsel, on the other hand, does not dispute the facts noticed above.

Mr. Harkirat Singh, Advocate, enters appearance and files power of attorney on behalf of the complainant and supports the contentions raised by the petitioner that the matter had been compromised and that he has no objection to bail being granted to the petitioner.

Having heard the counsel for the respective parties and without commenting anything on the merits of the present case and further taking into consideration the period of custody already undergone by the petitioner, his clean antecedents and the settlement having already been arrived at between the petitioner and complainant, I deem it appropriate to allow the present petition. Accordingly, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his furnishing requisite bail bond/surety bond to the satisfaction of the Trial Court/Duty Magistrate, concerned.

It is made clear that the petitioner shall not extend any threat and shall not influence any prosecution witnesses in any manner directly or indirectly.

The observation made hereinabove shall not be construed as an expression on the merits of the case and the trial Court shall decide the case on the basis of available material.

April 22, 2026. (VINOD S. BHARDWAJ)

raj arora JUDGE